Kona boffins- frame geometry and recommended size

[FluffyChicken]

In my signature link is a 1997 explosif, my popping to my mum allotment bike. It went the same way are your plan and it's never got to her allotment yet. even if it is just a Kona.

Anthony has many of the things and many others.


1997 is probably the pick of the 95-97 versions.
1998 moved to 853 tubing which i've never had but they don't seem as interesting to look at and you'll be shunned by the retrobike community with no real place to show it off.
1997 and before will tell you it's too new.
1998+ will be swamped by them showing their modern stuff off.

So you know what to do

Resale on the '97 Explosif is much easier to.

 

[parma_ham]

Thanks and wow, that looks Really nice. I was thinking of riding mine fully rigid, or will I be shunned for that also ?

Ben

 

[parma_ham]

There was no way I was going to pay nigh on £80 for that frame before postage / swingining by Tiverton. I went up to £65. The seller seemed pretty knowledgable re: measurements and savvy about bikes. He/she was pretty unhelpful about taking the other measurements though to enable me to confirm it wass 100% a 17". This annoyed me.

They didn't tell me how chipped the paint was etc either which I found a little disconcerting. Also as they were clearly into bikes, alarm bells rang in the fact that they couldn't get the post out. They said they had tried heat, sawing it etc. Perhaps they ahd somehow damaged the seat tube trying to remove the post. I wouldn't have a leg to stand on given that it was advertised for spares or repair. I just worried that it might all be more hassle than it's worth at that price.

The hunt continues, maybe I should look into an explosif.......

Ben

 

[Andy R]

Lol! We'll see how this auction goes first! The 1997 is full columbus max tubing no? Is that the pick of the bunch or is the 1998 better?
Ben

In my opinion the '97 has it and, if it's a 17", then they're like hens teeth.
Just get it or, if you don't want it, pass the details on to me .

 

[unkleGsif]

mmmmm

Someone took a massive punt on that one
you did well to gamble up to £65. Id have been wary at £50, given the damage

G

 

[Anthony]

there's also this that you could look at
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KONA-LAVA...0867617973?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item3f10f7d8b5
says its a 17", but again, the "check measurements with seller" caveat applies
G

Yes, it's a 1992 size 16, but no surprise that he's wrong - most owners of earlier Konas don't know how to measure the size.

 

[unkleGsif]

there's a 17.5" explosif ine the ads section

G

 

[Anthony]

Just seen this :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/280784486524?ss ... 1423.l2649
I'm going to ask the seller whether it is A-head or not and overall condition (cracks etc) bar the seat tube of course being stuck. Obviously I'm keen to ensure 100% it is 17 ". Were konas of this era just measured from above the BB to the bottom of the seat tube or another method? If someone can tell me so I can ask the seller to double check, that would be super.
So do you think the seat tube can come out with a beat of drill action and possibly a little heat or is it a lost cause? What about cutting a thread into the stuck seat tube and then threading a bolt into or something to enable one to pull it out :? ?
Thanks again for all your thoughts
Ben

I think you could have got the broken post out with a saw, although it looks a slightly tricky one. I wouldn't ever use a drill or heat. I would say the price was merited as that is a good frame, subject obviously to the caveats you mention.

Kona measured size from centre of bb to top of seat tube from 1993 onwards. Prior to that, they measured it from the outside of the bb shell to the top of the seat tube. Hence the owner of the 1992 size 16 Lava Dome thinks it's a size 17, because the c-t measure is 16.8".

 

[We_are_Stevo]

Someone has offered me a 1997 17" explosif on here but it's too much for me atm. What year was your exploif Stevo? Were both bikes fully rigid or hard tails? Did the explosif just feel too stiff. the geometry is pretty similar no?

Ben

My Explosif pictured on the first page here is actually the Reynolds 853 framed '98 model but I justify including it in the >'97 threads by virtue of the fact it was available from September '97, therefore the bike was made in '97 and the frame itself even earlier

I also have a full-Skandium framed Y2K Explosif and having ridden all three bikes back-to-back I can honestl repeat I preferred the feel of the Columbus-framed Kilauea - whether that was due to the Kilauea being a 17" frame versus the 18" framed Explosifs I don't know. I also haven't ridden a Columbus-framed Explosif but I would imagine it to be similar to the Kilauea?

It's a bit like dating twins; one's going to be more desirable and exciting than the other if high maintenance, but it's the quiet one you remember with affection years later!

 

[konaman1]

Hmm, lm not sure if any high end steel Kona sharing the same geometry really feels any nicer/different from each other. More often than not it is the wheels and the forks/ bars etc which govern the feel of a bike. l have owned and ridden all three years of columbus max Explosifs plus a '98 Explosif in 853 and a Hot from the same year made of the same material. l also very briefly owned and rode a factory spec '96 Kilauea albeit with P2's.

My favourite bike to ride has always been the one with the better components. The Kila as it left the factory rode like a nail off road but l believe that is because of the plain gauge spoked rather heavy rear wheel and the unforgiving nature of the P2's. By comparison my '95 Explosif with King hubs dt db spokes on x517 plus a marzocchi bomber up front is about as good as it gets off road on a hardtail.

l dont believe anybody would be able to tell the difference between the frames riding characteristics if the two frames were to go head to head with the same spec.